Ron Harris

We often talk about our “comfort” zone, the place where we feel…well…comfortable. That’s not a bad thing. I want to be comfortable at home, around friends, and with our many global ministry partners. But is there a limit to our desire for comfort? Should there be an “uncomfortable” zone in our lives?

Have you ever worn shoes that were uncomfortable? I have. But that’s not what I am talking about. There are times when our comfort zone is a deep pit that keeps us from seeing what the Lord wants us to see. Often, we build the walls of that pit so high that we can’t see over our personal likes and spiritual prejudices. If you are saying “Ouch,” don’t feel too bad. Some of Jesus’ closest disciples had built up such walls, and the Lord Jesus had to reorient them to His thinking.

You probably remember the account that happened after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. The disciples were busy sharing the Good News, but in a way, they were stuck behind walls. They needed to learn the greatness of God’s heart, and it happened through Peter.

In Acts 10, we find the account of Peter on the roof of Simon the Tanner’s home. He had been there for a long time doing the Lord’s amazing work of healing lives and even raising from the dead a young lady named Tabitha. While on the roof, Peter, in a dream-like state, saw something like a sheet being lowered. It was filled with all sorts of animals, birds, and even reptiles. When the voice from heaven instructed Peter to get up, kill, and eat them, Peter went back into his comfort zone.

“Lord, I’ve never done that! Our Jewish laws have instructed me to not eat unclean things. Nope. Not doing it.”

Then the voice from heaven built a bridge from Peter’s comfort zone to God’s plan for sharing the Good News.

“Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”

Acts 10:15 NLT

Peter’s thoughts weren’t bad or selfish. He was doing what he thought honored God. But the Lord needed to show Peter that the Gospel had a broader path, and it included the Gentiles.

I’m so glad Peter was willing to move out of his comfort zone to share the hope of Christ with that Roman soldier Cornelius. It opened the door for you and me to know the joy of salvation through Jesus Christ.

In my global travels, I have been confronted with things that are beyond my personal preferences and biblical understanding. I must be reminded that God’s ways are not necessarily my ways. I have had to hear that voice that said, “Don’t call something unclean that God has called clean.” And I have had to adjust my understanding to the Lord’s heart for the world.

There are certain things I won’t adjust —the main tenets of our faith. But there are other practices and areas that are okay spiritually, even if they are different from what I have always known or thought.

So, how do you discern these things? I’m glad you asked! Prayer. The daily study of God’s Word. An openness to the Holy Spirit’s instruction that may take me out of my comfort zone…but place me where the Lord can do amazing things in the lives of others. I’m willing to be uncomfortable if it furthers the work and the spread of God’s Good News to a lost an dying world.

God’s best,

We live in a communication world. We have never been more connected, yet we often struggle with being understood, being clear, being relevant, or being influential with the greatest message ever proclaimed. Is the message of Christ out of step with our culture? Do we need to change it? Or do we need to better understand the communication process in today’s busy world?

My university teaching has typically been on a topic that most college students think is out of date. Radio. Yet by the end of the semester, they have come to realize why radio continues to have a powerful role in our culture today. Sure, we don’t sit around the radio as a family in the evening listening to radio dramas. New technologies and our modern-day lifestyles have shifted the way we use radio. The students also discover that many of the principles for effective radio have a broader application, encompassing the communication process in general.

Radio specialist Valerie Geller lays out many of these principles in her book Beyond Powerful Radio. Here are a few of the points Valerie uses as she consults with clients around the world:

1. Tell the truth.
2. Make it matter.
3. Never be boring.
4. Speak visually, in terms your audience can “picture.”
5. Address the individual as “you.” Talk to one person at a time.
6. Be who you are.
7. Take risks
8. Dare to be great.

Number two is critical. When we share spiritual truth, we need to be sure the audience knows it is important. It matters. For radio particularly, number five is important. The use of “you” in your conversation and the understanding of the intimate medium of radio will link you in amazing ways to the listener.

I especially like number eight. When our purpose is right and our message is based on God’s Truth, we can and should aim for excellence in our presentation. There is no good reason to be second best in presenting biblical truth. We should strive to be the best communicators around.

As I mentioned earlier, many of these principles and suggestions will also help us in our day-to-day communications. Speaking visually is important, using language that paints pictures for the listener to “see.” Think of the stories of the Bible, the stories and parables that Jesus told. We can often pull up visual images that help enhance the stories and make them memorable. I can see in my mind the rather small man named Zacchaeus as he climbed up in a nearby tree to get above the crowd with hopes of seeing Jesus as he passed by. Even without the help of Hollywood movies, I can see the agony of Christ on the cross. If I say “Noah,” do you see his ark?

The stories of the Bible are not boring. And neither should we be boring as we share the greatest story mankind has ever heard… that the God who hung the stars in place sent His son to be born as a baby in a smelly animal stall. Jesus’ life would impact all those around Him, and then He would die by the cruelest of all methods of punishment ever devised…the cross. We can picture Him there. And we see the rock tomb where Jesus was buried, with its big stone blocking the entryway. Such a powerful, visual story.

Let’s sharpen our communication skills. Someone today needs to hear the most important news in our world. And you are the one who may need to deliver it.

God’s best,

You probably learned it in high school.

Objects in motion tend to stay in motion.

Objects at rest tend to stay at rest.

The second part of Newton’s Law of Motion is the pesky one for me. When I’m in a warm bed on a cold day, I “tend” to stay at rest…under the covers. When I’m taking a hot shower, the hard thing is turning off the soothing water. I “tend” to want to just stay there, enjoying the warmth.

Guess what? This law also applies to us in leadership. We can easily get stuck at rest, in our comfort zone, tending to stay there when we should be moving forward. We are “warm and safe” there. No risk. No issue with failure.

“A ship is always safe at shore, but that is not what it’s built for.”

I love that quote, which has been attributed to many, from author John A. Shedd to Albert Einstein to Navy admirals. It speaks to us on several levels.

It is easy to stay in our comfort zone to avoid facing challenges and the potential for failure. But little is accomplished by staying in our safe harbor. Someone has said, “While staying in our comfort zones might be safe and easy, it prevents us from fulfilling our true potential and purpose, which often requires taking risks and facing challenges.”

God gives us a strong nudge to step out and fulfill our purpose. James’ words are a call to action, not safety:

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

James 1:22 NLT

When we get comfortable, we begin to fool ourselves. We become content with where we are and don’t want to push out for fear of storms, challenges, or even failure. God calls us to be better than that.

We should embrace the great potential for growth and success that lies beyond the comfort zone. Set sail, face the challenges and opportunities, and know the Lord is with you as you step out. Above all, don’t allow Newton’s law to keep you from fulfilling God’s assignment for you and those you lead. Don’t stay at rest in your comfort zone. That’s not what you were designed to do.

God’s best,

There is probably a comparable saying in many countries to what we say in the U.S…. “Talk is cheap!” That phrase can take on meaning at various levels. It may mean that it is easy to say something, hard to do it, or live it. It could mean that “much speaking” is not necessarily a virtue. And while we are communicators, we need to choose our words carefully.

Valerie Geller travels the world teaching communication principles to broadcasters. Her book Beyond Powerful Radio has become a classic and contains wisdom for all in the media field. In fact, the subtitle of that book is A Communicator’s Guide to the Internet Age. I have drawn wisdom from it for courses and seminars I have taught over the years.

In a section called Avoid Useless Chatter, Geller says, “Just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should.” This applies no matter what medium you are using: radio, television, or social media. Wow. Half or more of Facebook might disappear if people took this to heart—my posts included!

Valerie Geller also quotes air personality Turi Ryder, who says, “Think of all the available content as crude oil. There may be a lot of it, but it’s no good to you unless it’s refined.” One of your roles as a communicator is to take raw material and refine it for the audience. Your role is not to just replicate what you hear or read. Many have been caught on the internet passing on “fake news” because it sounded good, only to (hopefully) retract it when the false story was discovered.

Our communications need focus. We need to know our topic and the point we are trying to make. We need to be aware of the “brand” we are building. People associate what they see, hear, and experience with a person, a station, a blog, or even a product. Most of us have been disappointed when we purchased a consumer item based on the brand and discovered the brand had produced a low-cost, inferior product. Just because they could do that, should they have done it? Not if it costs them their reputation.

The Bible even addresses this topic. Solomon was pretty direct in his writings in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes:

...too many words make you a fool.

Ecclesiastes 5:3 NLT

Sometimes, we can improve our communication process by simply finding the “off-ramp.” We may make a solid point, then continue to ramble on, with the result that the good point is lost in our many words. Use your words carefully and communicate truth in a clear and powerful way. That has the greatest impact on your audience.

God’s best…

Many of us learned the 23rd Psalm in the King James language. Sometimes, the antiquated words and form get in the way of the passage’s meaning. But other times, there is a lyrical quality that enhances and underscores the beauty and power of the psalm in deep ways.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” That gives a different emphasis than the New Living Translation’s “He lets me rest in green meadows.” Sometimes, for our good, the Lord “maketh” us to lie down.

This came to my mind recently after returning from my second international trip in about three weeks. I was worn out and dealing with a pesky cough. The only remedy I had was to stay down for a few days. I needed to be refreshed. To be honest, that is not my nature. There is always something more to do, some planning and preparation, some writing, some something on my agenda. But God has something else for me than just “doing.” Scripture reminds us, “…times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah (Acts 19:20 NLT).”

He maketh me to lie down…

The Old Testament makes a big deal of the Sabbath day of rest. The Lord went so far as to tell His people to give the land a time of rest, to be renourished and replenished. Is there a lesson for us in that? God has admonished us to “Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10 NLT).”

From my recent experience, God has given me some new insights and vision for ministry. The Lord has reminded me of the nature of our world and the deep need for us to do as Peter says, to “…set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess (1 Peter 3:15 NET).”

I am reminded that along with the global opportunities we have to reach the unreached who have never heard the Gospel, we need to be aware of those right around us. Family, friends, the waiter at the restaurant, and the person on the airplane next to us. Be ready.

For me, it starts with refreshment. Rest. I should do that on my own before the Lord “maketh” me do it. But I also need to recognize that God is doing this for my good. And…for His great purpose.

God’s best,

There was an old hymn we used to sing:

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin.

The Light of the world is Jesus.

I don’t hear it much these days. Yet the message is as true today…maybe more so…than when I was young singing those words.

As I travel to various places in our world, as I look across the spiritual landscape, it is quite obvious that our world is in darkness and needs a great light. The Light of the world.

Yet most in darkness don’t see the light. They often aren’t aware they need the light. Oh, yes, many know that something is not right in their world, or more specifically, in their lives. But they don’t know what to do. Where to turn.

That’s why Jesus… the Light of the world…said to His followers:

You are the light of the world….

Matthew 5:14 NLT

The Lord went on to say that our light should shine into the darkness in a way that points others to Him, that glorifies our Heavenly Father.

Henry Blackaby in his book Experiencing God Day by Day wrote:

“There is no mistaking the effect of light upon a darkened place. Light boldly and unabashedly announces its presence and vigorously dispels darkness.”

Can I expand that just a bit? It is one thing to carry the light, to shine the light, to hold up a spiritual mirror and reflect the light. It is another thing to live the light. Today, I would say we need to hear, “Let your life so shine before men that they see Jesus and glorify our Heavenly Father. I can tell others what God’s Word says. Far better if my life also shows others that we are living and walking in that light personally.

Blackaby went further in his writing:

“God’s desire is to fill you with His light. He wants you to shine as a brilliant testimony of His presence and power in your life, so that the darkness in the lives of those around you will be displaced by the light of God’s glory. Can that be said of you as well? Do your coworkers recognize the light that is within you? Does the presence of Christ radiate from your home into your community? When God’s light is allowed to shine unhindered through your life, the darkness around you will be dispelled.”

There are many around you who need light. Their life is filled with darkness. Some of it is of their own making. Others live in circumstances where there is no light, no hope. They need to catch a glimpse of the hope in your life, and they will be drawn to that ultimate Light.

James wrote his letter to believers scattered abroad. They had a great opportunity to make an impact for Christ and the Gospel, but James had a word of warning for them:

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

James 1:22 NLT

So… today…let your LIFE shine before those around you so that they will see Jesus.

God’s best,

I knew a man who was the head of a major Christian organization. He was a visionary. He had so many ideas…quality ideas…that everyone was sure the agency would soar. And it did…in the idea realm. This leader was not at the helm of the ministry organization for too long. After he left, some said of him, “He had thirty-thousand-foot ideas, but he just couldn’t land the plane. He couldn’t go from vision or dream to reality.”

Do you know anyone like that? Always coming up with great ideas, but unable to bring them about? That person is more of a dreamer than a leader in many ways.

I think we all may have been in a situation like that. In our heart we have a strong desire, a dream, a vision of what could be. Sometimes that’s where it stays. A dream. A desire. But no effective plan to make that idea a reality.

Dr. Robert Jeffress in a Pathway to Victory devotional wrote, “There’s a difference in knowing your dreams and actually fulfilling your dreams.” And he used the life and leadership of Nehemiah as an example. His vision was to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.

Jeffress listed five key steps any leader can use to land that thirty-thousand-foot idea:

1. Investigation – Nehemiah walked around the wall at night to get a sense of what the job would be like, what was needed to finish the job, and what were the major obstacles.
2. Motivation – When Nehemiah announced this goal, his vision, he had to do it in a way that inspired the people of Jerusalem.
3. Determination – This leader was prepared to defend his dream against the opposition. Criticism will almost always come. A leader must be ready for it and be able to keep those he is leading moving forward toward the goal.
4. Organization – There was an urgency to the work that Nehemiah was leading the people to do. It was a long wall. And he couldn’t do it by himself. So, he organized it so that the people worked on the section of the wall nearest their home. It was both organization and motivation.
5. Implementation – Finally, you just have to start. It is harder to get something started than it is to keep it moving. Try pushing your car when it won’t start. You’ll understand that principle. In the famous Nike shoes phrase… “Just do it!”

You can see these principles laid out in the first three chapters of the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. It is worth reading to learn these leadership principles.

God has called us to good works. As leaders…whether it is a ministry, a corporation, or your family…we need to lead in a way that inspires others to do the work alongside us and accomplish God’s vision He has given us.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

What dream…what good works…has the Lord given you? If it comes from God, it is part of His great plan. And we can be confident that accomplishing it will bless and draw many to Christ.

Let’s dream those thirty-thousand-foot dreams. But let’s be sure we have the plan to land the plane.

God’s best,

Those of us who have emerged as leaders, can easily reflect on our accomplishments and see the path that led us to where we are today. If we aren’t careful, we may take too much credit for our leadership role.

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) carried an article that caught my eye.

Ego Is the Enemy of Good Leadership.

In the article, the author used examples of some leaders who woke up to the fact that they were being drawn away from the rest of their team by accepting the accolades and perks of their leadership role. The HBR said, “The higher leaders rise in the ranks, the more they are at risk of ending up in an insulated bubble, losing touch with their colleagues, the culture, and ultimately, their clients.”

One of the more revealing quotes for me was the author’s comment, “An unchecked ego can warp our perspective or twist our values.” That should warn us as leaders to be careful how we view ourselves and our role in an organization or ministry.

When thinking about this, I like what Ken Blanchard says about EGO. In his book Lead Like Jesus Blanchard equates our human ego to an acronym.

EGO = Edging God Out.

That really says it, doesn’t it? When our ego takes over, we claim praise for ourselves that rightly should go to God. We tend to forget that anything we have, think, or do…anything…is a result of God’s grace in our lives. The Lord gives us breath. He brings about circumstances and experiences that help us develop and grow as leaders. And His Spirit provides inspiration to our thoughts. Yet we often simply Edge God Out and let our ego take over. We claim praise that belongs to the Lord and take it as our own. Edging God Out. And that is dangerous.

Through Jeremiah the prophet, the Lord admonishes us:

This is what the Lord says:
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.

But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.

I, the Lord, have spoken!

Jeremiah 9: 23-24 NLT

Ken Blanchard offers another definition for EGO that we would be wise to embrace.

EGO = Exalt God Only.

That means doing what Jeremiah wrote those thousands of years ago…boast only that we know God and understand and acknowledge that He alone is God…and we aren’t!

So…what will it be for you and your ego? Will you Edge God Out? Or will you, more and more, day by day, Exalt God Only? The decision is yours. The glory belongs to God.

God’s best,

In leadership, we often agonize over persuading others to buy into our vision, what we see as the future of our ministry and our organization. We share what we see, hoping others will grasp it like we do and that they will desire to be a part of this great vision. We may be…to use an old saying… putting the cart before the horse.

John Maxwell’s book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership reminds us that people don’t often buy into the vision without first buying into the leader. If you are a ministry leader, YOU are the message. A board chairman friend has often told me, “People aren’t giving to a cause because of the vision, they are giving because of the leader.”

Our advertising world understands that. This is why athletic shoe companies like Nike use well-known athletes to promote their products. It is why we often see actors pitching everything from spray paint to retirement funds. Did these people suddenly become experts in these products? Probably not. But because the companies know that people like the athlete or the actor, they will be more open to what they are selling.

What does that say to us as ministry leaders? Maxwell says this:

“Every message that people receive is filtered through the messenger who delivers it. If you consider the messenger to be credible, then you believe the message has value.”

It is not that people automatically buy into your vision because they like you, but it is hard for them to accept what you are presenting if they don’t have confidence in you. You are the message to them. But how do you build credibility with those with whom you share the vision, whether it is your staff or supporters? Here are some of John Maxwell’s suggestions:

• Develop a good relationship with others.
• Be honest and authentic and develop trust.
• Hold yourself to high standards and set a good example.
• Give your team the tools to do their job better.
• Help your staff achieve their personal goals.
• Develop them as leaders.

By the way, all this takes time. Leaders have to learn to be patient, even when they feel the vision is a God-given one. Most of us cannot accomplish God’s vision without having others join with us…and that means these others, whether your staff or your supporters, have to believe in you. Take time to build credibility and integrity, and you will see God’s vision come about.

The prophet Habakkuk was waiting for a message, a vision, from the Lord. When it came, God let Habakkuk know it wouldn’t come about instantly.

This vision is for a future time.
It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,
for it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed.

Habakkuk 2:3 NLT

If God has given you a vision for your ministry or organization, something that will further His kingdom, do all you can to be a worthy messenger of God’s vision… and patiently work to build the credibility needed for others to see that vision through you.

God’s best,

Who was Bartholomew (sometimes referred to as Nathanael)? If you said one of the twelve disciples, you get a gold star.

Now, what do you know about this man? That’s where I got stuck the other morning. It dawned on me that I know almost nothing about this follower of Jesus except that the Lord called him to be one of those in His inner circle of twelve men. Scholars believe Bartholomew and Nathanael to be one and the same. If so, Bartholomew is the first recorded person to declare Jesus to be the “Son of God.” And Jesus said of him, “He is a man in whom there is nothing false.”

That’s pretty much all we know. Yes, Bartholomew was among the twelve that Jesus sent out to perform miracles and to share Christ. Yes, he was with the others at the Lord’s supper in the upper room. And he was among those who watched as Jesus ascended into heaven.

But there is nothing else about him in the Bible.

So, what is my point? There are many followers of Christ who receive no recognition. They get no “press.” They serve faithfully and do so in obscurity. That goes against our culture today. We think we need to be honored and recognized to know if we are really effective in serving the Lord. Not so.

Oswald Chambers taught about this several times. In the book So Send I You, we read this:

Jesus warned His disciples that they would be treated as nobodies; He never said they would be brilliant or marvelous. We all have a lurking desire to be exhibitions for God, to be put, as it were, in His showroom.

Adoniram Judson, an American missionary to Burma for forty years, once said: “Permit us to labor on in obscurity, and at the end of twenty years, you may hear from us again.”

The Apostle Paul came at this subject another way:

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. -Colossians 3:23-24 NLT

That verse may have led Oswald Chambers to ask:

“If God chooses to have you labor in total obscurity, what is that to you?”

No, we may not make it into the world’s “Hall of Fame.” Yet we have the assurance that no matter how little people know of our efforts or even how much attention we may receive, we can all look forward to those words spoken by a master to His faithful servant:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

That should be enough.

God’s best,